The Obsidians

Blanton Ridge to Spencer Butte
2022-07-08
This hike to the top of Spencer Butte takes the less traveled route from Blanton Road. We’ll cross Blanton Ridge before continuing on from the 52nd and Willamette trailhead. This option provides a good in town workout.. If the weather doesn’t co-operate we can forgo the exposed rocky steps near the top.
To get to the trailhead from 29th & Willamette continue south on Willamette. At Willamette/Donald St Intersection bear right on Willamette. Immediately bear right again on to Crest Drive. Follow signs staying on Crest for approximately 1.2 miles to the Junction with Blanton Road. Turn left on Blanton. The trial head is on your left in about ½ mile.
Another way to get to the Blanton trailhead is to go south on Chambers until it ends at Crest Drive. Turn left on to Crest. In about ½ mile turn right on Blanton Road. Proceed another 1/4- 1/2 mile to trailhead.

Obsidian Grounds
2022-07-08
We will mow, weed, dig blackberries, and move mulch prior to the Get Acquainted hike on Saturday. If you want, bring a treat to share for our 10:30 a.m. break. We will work from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, but any time you can spare is appreciated.

Maxwell Butte
2022-07-09
This hike starts near Maxwell snow park and climbs 2500 feet to the summit of Maxwell Butte for some impressive views of Three Fingered Jack. After the hike some of us will stop at Takoda’s restaurant for dinner so choose your ride accordingly.
No limited entry permit or NW forest pass needed.

Mt Washington
2022-07-09

Get Acquainted/Ribbon Trail
2022-07-09
Meet at the Obsidian Lodge to start the hike on the Ribbon Trail to Hendricks Park and back. This is an opportunity to find out about the Obsidians, get acquainted with members, and visit our lodge. This hike through the woods has a few short bursts of steep up and down hill. Members are welcome to sign up to help answer questions.
Drive past the Laurelwood Golf Course up 27th St then at the top of the hill turn right onto Spring Blvd, a one lane road. When Spring Blvd ends, turn left onto Central then immediately look for the Obsidians Inc. sign and driveway on your right. Enter the driveway and follow the gravel road to the parking areas and Lodge. The Lodge is hard to find so if you want to view the map, go to the Obsidian home page. http://obsidians.org/lodgemap.htm

Mt Thielsen
2022-07-09 00:00 - 2022-07-10 23:59 (America/Los_Angeles)
Leave town at ~6pm on Friday night, drive to Thielsen trailhead and spend the night. Saturday morning we’ll have a quick breakfast and begin our climb at 5am, hike up the Mt. Thielsen trail until we reach the PCT, where we’ll take off on the climbers trail. Once we reach Chicken ledge, we’ll set up a fixed line for all to ascend. We may set up a rapell for our descent. We’ll retrace our steps back down the trail to the trailhead and head home Saturday evening. I expect the climb will take ~10 hours car to car.

Paradise Park
2022-07-12
This hike starts at Timberline Lodge then follows the PCT to the aptly named Paradise Park which has great views of Mt Hood and is typically loaded with wildflowers. The long drive, stream crossings, and decent into Zig-Zag Canyon make this a challenging and all day adventure. We’ll stop for dinner before driving home.
Note we’ll be departing at 6am from the Springfield Fred Meyer on Q Street just north of the fueling station.

Mt Pisgah Sunset/Moonrise
2022-07-12
Moonrise is at 8:39 and sunset is 8:54. Full moon is the next day. Look for us by my car a row or two down from the fee box.. Depending on the temperature, the current plan is to take 7, “shady” 4 and 1. Optional: The shorter route of #7 and #3 to the main trail.
Email me at jbjacobsen@comcast.net if you have questions or need to start earlier. If you don’t have a Lane County pass allow time to purchase one with Debit/Credit card (no cash) at the pay station by trailhead.

Blanton Ridge to Spencer Butte
2022-07-12, 2022-07-19
This hike to the top of Spencer Butte takes the less traveled route from Blanton Road. We’ll cross Blanton Ridge before continuing on from the 52nd and Willamette trailhead. This option provides a good in town workout.. If the weather doesn’t co-operate we can forgo the exposed rocky steps near the top.
To get to the trailhead from 29th & Willamette continue south on Willamette. At Willamette/Donald St Intersection bear right on Willamette. Immediately bear right again on to Crest Drive. Follow signs staying on Crest for approximately 1.2 miles to the Junction with Blanton Road. Turn left on Blanton. The trial head is on your left in about ½ mile.
Another way to get to the Blanton trailhead is to go south on Chambers until it ends at Crest Drive. Turn left on to Crest. In about ½ mile turn right on Blanton Road.

Martin Lake
2022-07-13
This is a loop hike that is shown in Sullivan’s 2020 Central Cascades book under Three Fingered Jack. It heads north from the Santiam Pass PCT trailhead before leaving the maintained trail to hike past Martin lake then joining the Old Summit trail 4014 to hike south past Booth lake then Square Lake where it then heads back west to our parking area. Almost all of this hike is within the 2003 B & B Fire so you’ll get lots of sun but also great views. I’ve rated this hike difficult as the 1 mile off trail section is a very steep scramble. If the day’s hot enough we’ll have a refreshing swim at Square lake. I suspect that some of our group will stop at Takoda’s in Rainbow after the hike.

Amazon Hdwtrs/Spencer Butte
2022-07-13, 2022-07-20
NOTE: Flexible departure time from 7:45 to 8:00.
Every Wednesday since 2013 we do this hike from the Martin Street Trailhead to the summit of Spencer Butte. Compared to starting at the paved Spencer Butte parking lot, this hike has double the climbing and three times the distance. It is a conditioning hike where everyone is challenging themselves to go at a moderate or fast pace—not like the other hikes on our schedule. If this is your first time on this Obsidian conditioning hike, or hiking to Spencer Butte, you may want to call the leader to discuss the pace. If you should fall too far behind, the leaders reserve the right to have you not summit but wait and return with the group. The regulars on this hike have attained their fitness by showing up consistently and slowly improving. If you have questions, email summertrips@obsidians.org. Come a few minutes early because we leave promptly at the listed time. To get to the trailhead: Take West Amazon to Martin Street. Turn left. Drive past Kinney Park and park Martin Street near the Kiosk sign board across from Canyon Drive Street sign with hiker symbol. Please contact the leader if you have any questions.

Fox Hollow to Spencer's Butte
2022-07-13
Evening/after-work conditioning hike:
Meet at the Fox Hollow trail head parking lot at 5:50 pm. We leave promptly at 6pm.
Conditioning / moderate level hike due to the pace and elevation gain. If you have any questions, please give me a call.

Mt Hood
2022-07-14 00:00 - 2022-07-15 23:59

Pisgah long hike
2022-07-15

Pisgah Loop Hike
2022-07-15
To get to the east trailhead head drive toward Pleasant Hill on hwy 58. Turn left at the 76 station on to Ridgeway Rd. The parking area is 1.7 miles down this road. We will hike to the summit on trail #2 and then return using trail #6. The parking lot is small but vehicles sometimes park on the road if there isn’t room. You need a Lane County pass to park but not if you park on the road. I plan to lunch at the Sunrise Cafe at the Pleasant Hill strip mall close by afterwards and feel free to join me or not.

Full Moon Cham-o-tee Sunrise
2022-07-15
Spencer Butte sunrise.
Please be on time. We’ll leave promptly at 4:30AM. Spectacular sunrise guaranteed (…or money back)

Broken Top
2022-07-15
Approaching one of the southern trailheads and most likely up the standard route, across the catwalk. Be prepared for fixed line travel and rappel.
Permits have not yet been purchased. Please sign up by July 12 or you can’t be included in the permit.
Exact details of departure and starting trailhead will depend on which permit is available during the 2-day release (July 13). Leader will attempt to get a permit for Green Lakes TH with Todd Lake TH as a back up (adds 1 extra mile each way). If we are completely skunked for Broken Top, Leader will look for alternative permits or McLoughlin.
This is planned as a single day with a very early start. Likely we will leave Thursday evening and sleep a few hours at the TH the night before.
Leader will coordinate with group on Thursday 14th to identify carpooling info and permit info for those that have signed up. Please don’t sign up unless you know you can go. Email leader if you have any questions.

Rosary Lakes "Love A Lake"
2022-07-15
This is a Stewardship “Love A Lake” hike. Starting at Willamette Pass we follow the PCT to Lower, Middle and Upper Rosary Lakes. Our task will be to pick up trash around campsites and along the shoreline. Illegal fire pits will be removed and ash removed from others. We begin by hiking 3.5 miles to Upper Rosary for lunch. On our return trip we will take care of cleaning the area.

Canyon Creek Meadows
2022-07-16
The trailhead to the hike is a bit of a drive and includes 6 miles on a rough gravel road but the reward is a beautiful loop hike through wildflower filled meadows to a spectacular viewpoint with the added plus of a herd of mountain goats often seen in the area. Even though this is a relatively short hike with a moderate elevation gain I’ve rated it difficult as there is a challenging and steep scramble the last 1/2 mile to get to the viewpoint. A stop at Jack Lake for a swim is an option. This is an all day trip so don’t plan on getting home early especially if you join us at Takoda’s restaurant after the hike.
Please note that permits for this trailhead will not be issued until July 6th. I’ll set the maximum participants at 12 for now and adjust it if necessary.

Metolius River
2022-07-16
A long loop hike along the banks of what’s been called the Most Beautiful River in Oregon. We will include stops at a Fish Hatchery and the Sherman General Store.

Iron Mountain
2022-07-16
Meet at Weyerhaeuser-McKenzie Natural Area at 42nd St. and 3809 Marcola Road.
The early departure is to avoid the crowds and afternoon hot temperatures. It is an hour drive up Mohawk Valley to Sweet Home where we will head east up Highway 20 around 35 miles to Deer Creek Trailhead for the loop hike. (milepost 63). An almost moderate pace with time to take photos. Lunch at the top on the platform.
Bathroom stop at Foster Dam (Shear) Viewpoint, east of Sweet Home. Toilet at the Trailhead.

Annual Beach Barefoot Hike
2022-07-17
Join me on my Annual Obsidian barefoot hike. This year we will start at Holman Vista day use area.
We will first cross 20” deep Sutton Creek and then hike on the beach north, cross 10” deep Berry Creek and continue to the Darko’s Hidden Cove. After the snack break we will hike back pretty much same way. Low tide (-1.15ft) will be at 10:41AM.
*We are designed to walk barefoot but evolved to shoe wearing creatures. Barefoot walking is candid way to feel the earth under your feet. Let’s feel the sand! ➽ Note: There are many health benefits and some risks associated with going barefoot. Please use common sense. Carry sandals or (and) thick socks and use in case you are unable to handle sand under your feet.

Mt Washington
2022-07-17
Whoohoo, let’s climb Mt Washington! This is a technical climb with 3 pitches of rope after a hike in and a ridge scramble. It will be a 12 – 15 hour day. We’ll start very early to help ensure success. Note, upon signing up, you are not automatically included in the trip. If you have not climbed with me before, we’ll need to discuss your experience, fitness, and skills. Meetup/Departure Location: TBD

North Cinder Peak
2022-07-20
This is listed as an exploratory hike. I’ve hiked to South Cinder Peak several times but I’ve never been to North Cinder Peak. We’ll park at the Cabot Lake trailhead and hike to Carl lake where we’ll hike around to the north side of the lake then continue north to get ourselves between North Cinder and Forked Butte. If we don’t see a good route up North Cinder we’ll probably head up Forked Butte instead. Hopefully this will be an interesting day. A stop at Carl Lake for a swim on the way back is an option as is a stop at Takoda’s restaurant so be sure to ask your driver their plan for after the hike.

52nd/Willamette to Blanton Ridge
2022-07-20
Evening/after-work hike, rated easy.
Meet at 52nd and Willamette, park on the west side of Willamette at 52nd.
Please meet by 5:50 pm, we leave promptly at 6pm.
I will pace this hike based on the group’s ability.

Red Buttes PCT 20lb Challenge
2022-07-22 00:00 - 2022-07-24 23:59
Backpack through an astonishing never-logged virgin forest and climb to sweeping views along the Pacific Crest Trail on this 25-mile weekend backpack loop through the Red Buttes Wilderness. Depart Friday, 4.5 hours to Shoofly Trailhead dropping a car at Horse Camp TH on the way. Hike 7 miles to camp at Cedar Flat near Azalea Lake. Saturday, hike to the Siskiyou Crest and the Pacific Crest trail traveling 11 miles atop the Red Buttes range. Camp below Red Butte. Sun 7 miles to car.

Three Fingered Jack
2022-07-23
Climb the standard South Ridge of 3 Fingered Jack. 4th and low 5th class terrain with enough scree and loose rock to make you pay attention. We will protect the spicier sections with rope. Skills required are ascending and down climbing a fixed rope on a prussik and rappelling. Reccomend boot gaiters, trekking poles, and plenty of bug reppellant. Meetup/Departure Location: Thurston Albertsons -NE corner of lot

No Name Lake
2022-07-23
The hike to No Name Lake next to Broken Top is one of Oregon’s most spectacular hikes. It offers sweeping views from Tam McArthur Rim of the Cascades and the surrounding countryside plus our destination of No Name Lake is one of Oregon’s most beautiful high alpine lakes.
We’ll start this hike at the Three Creeks Lake trailhead to Tam McArthur Rim. We’ll continue on past the rim all the way to No-Name Lake which is nestled in the crater of Broken Top Mt. We’ll return on the same route. I plan on stopping for dinner at Takoda’s in Sisters.
Please note that permits for this trailhead will not be issued until July 13th. I’ll set the maximum number of participants at 12 for now and adjust it if necessary.
Also note that because of late season snow this hike may very well be changed to a lower elevation destination.
